This online quiz will predict your risk of developing ovarian cancer

The charity Ovarian Cancer Action has launched an online tool that can help tell you your hereditary risk of developing the dreaded disease, in the hope that greater awareness may help save lives.

The Hereditary Cancer Risk Tool, which you can find online, has been developed to help people understand whether their family history puts them at a high risk of ovarian and other forms of cancer, as well as the risk-reducing options available to them.

Around 15% of ovarian cancer cases are linked to genetic mutations, such as BRCA1, which increase someone's chance of developing the disease and other forms of cancer.

Genetic mutations can be passed down from both your mother and father, and the general population is thought to have between a one in 400 and a one in 800 chance of having one. This risk increases to 1 in 40 for those of us with Jewish heritage.

The charity says this means that over 1,000 women in the UK could potentially be saved every year with greater awareness.

Getty ImagesVincent Besnault

The tool works by asking you a series of questions about your family history of cancer, and then compares your answers to national testing eligibility guidelines. If the results show that you should consider being tested for gene mutations, the tool clearly explains how you can pursue this on the NHS.

On top of this, everyone using the tool is reminded of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, which include:

feeling constantly bloated

a swollen tummy

discomfort in your tummy or pelvic area

feeling full quickly when eating, or loss of appetite

needing to pee more often or more urgently than normal

Joanne Stanford, Hereditary Cancer Specialist at Ovarian Cancer Action and co-creator of the Hereditary Cancer Risk Tool, said in a release: 'Every time a person with a genetic mutation is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it represents a cancer prevention failure.

'Along with genetic counsellors, we want to ensure individuals can make informed decisions around surveillance, preventative surgeries and its considerations, such as family planning.

'Genetic testing is one of our strongest weapons in the fight against this disease.'

She added: 'All you need is a few minutes and some information about your family history of cancer; it could change your life.'